Top News:
Theo Epstein / Boston Globe:
Farewell, Red Sox Nation — I gave everything I had to the team and received even more in return — Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein gestures to fans during the 2004 World Series Championship parade. (File 2004/Bill Greene/Globe Staff) — I GREW up in Brookline just down the road …
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MLB Rumors, Chicago Tribune, Bleed Cubbie Blue, HardballTalk, ESPN, Toeing the Rubber, NESN.com, SI Tracking Blog, Full Count, Associated Press, Deadspin and WasWatching.com
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ESPN:
Cubs introduce Theo Epstein … CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs introduced Theo Epstein as their president of baseball operations on Tuesday, hoping he can end a championship drought the way he did for the Boston Red Sox. — “To me, baseball is better with tradition, baseball is better with history …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, SI Tracking Blog and MLB
TSN.ca:
Jays make policy change, look to end Farrell speculation — The Toronto Blue Jays tried to clear up the speculation on Tuesday with rumours persisting that the Boston Red Sox - and perhaps even the Chicago Cubs - have interest in manager John Farrell to run their respective clubs.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, MLB Rumors, MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk and Bluebird Banter
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Sox set to name Cherington general manager — Epstein successor has risen up Red Sox ranks since 1999 — BOSTON — With the man they believe is the ideal successor already in place, the Red Sox will waste no time going on an exhaustive search to replace Theo Epstein …
Discussion:
NESN.com
Jean-Jacques Taylor / ESPN:
Mike Napoli turns pressure into success — Rangers' best postseason performer once more uses taste for spotlight in key spots … ARLINGTON, Texas — No words remain to put Mike Napoli's postseason performance into proper perspective. — “Phenomenal” doesn't really do it justice.
Discussion:
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, ESPN and Bluebird Banter
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Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
La Russa is to blame for Cardinals' Game 5 loss — ARLINGTON, Texas - He couldn't do it. The Genius couldn't take ownership of the fiasco he oversaw. Of all the places to manage the single worst inning of a career with 50,000 of them, Tony La Russa chose the eighth inning of the fifth game of a dead-even World Series.
Discussion:
ESPN, HardballTalk and Deadspin
Sports Illustrated:
La Russa's sloppy mistakes cost Cardinals any shot in Game 5 … Rangers power past Cardinals in Game 5 … Mitch Moreland, Adrian Beltre and Mike Napoli led the Rangers' comeback to beat the Cardinals 4-2. — ARLINGTON, Texas — Ron Washington might have become the first manager …
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings and NESN.com
Fox Sports:
La Russa's explanations are baffling
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding, New York Times and Bats
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
Rangers win wacky and weird Game 5
Discussion:
Baseball Time in Arlington and Giants Win
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
YOCUM EXAMINES LACKEY; ‘RESOLUTION’ NEAR — According to multiple industry sources, Red Sox right-hander John Lackey recently visited Dr. Lewis Yocum in California to have his right elbow examined. According to one of the sources, the Red Sox are expecting “a final resolution” …
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Matt Pepin / Boston Globe:
John Lackey to have Tommy John surgery — New Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said today that pitcher John Lackey will have Tommy John surgery and miss the 2012 season. — Lackey had elbow soreness during the season, and recently saw a specialist, Dr. Lewis Yocum.
Discussion:
Baseball-Reference Blog and Yahoo! Sports
Associated Press:
Red Sox to name Cherington GM
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Yahoo! Sports and MLB Daily Dish
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
MLB accuses Frank McCourt of ‘looting’ $189 million from Dodgers — As the bankrupcty case moves forward, a slew of court filings on Monday show that beating victim Bryan Stow will be central to the arguments and outcome in court. — For the first time, Major League Baseball put …
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Dodgers Blog, ESPN, HardballTalk, 6-4-2 and Baseball Nation
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ESPN:
MLB claims McCourt took $190M from Dodgers — Major League Baseball claims that Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt took nearly $190 million from the team in what a court filing termed “looting.” — In filings in a Delaware court, MLB said McCourt took $189.16 from the club …
Discussion:
SI Tracking Blog
Bloomberg:
Selig Bends Rules to Fit as Baseball Attempts to Oust McCourt From Dodgers
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Bill Shaikin / Dodgers Blog:
Dodgers bankruptcy: Creditors ask judge to deny TV rights sale
Discussion:
ESPN
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Twins Decline Option On Joe Nathan — The Twins announced today that they've declined their club option on reliever Joe Nathan. The option was worth $12.5MM, but the team will pay a $2MM buyout. … Nathan signed a four-year contract extension for $47MM in March of 2008, and the total remains the record for a reliever.
Discussion:
Around the Majors, Yahoo! Sports, Twinkie Town, MLB Daily Dish and SI Tracking Blog
Robneyer / Baseball Nation:
Royals Hire Dave Eiland As New Pitching Coach — After the season the Royals fired Bob McClure, their pitching coach of six seasons. Today they've hired Dave Eiland, who spent this season working in the Rays' front office after three seasons as the Yankees' pitching coach. — Bob Dutton:
Discussion:
Kansas City Star, Yahoo! Sports, Royals Review and The LoHud Yankees Blog
New York Post:
Baseball needs replay to get calls right — I also think you can limit the delays. In the time it took Texas manager Ron Washington to argue futilely on Saturday night, every viewer knew Kulpa had made a mistake. So install a rule that any manager who leaves the bench receives a huge fine.
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues, MLB Daily Dish, Bucs Dugout, Pinstripe Alley, Federal Baseball and MLB Rumors
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Cash Kruth / MLB.com:
Phillies decline options on Lidge, Oswalt — Club could attempt to bring both players back as free agents — PHILADELPHIA — It is no surprise the Phillies declined the 2012 options for right-handers Roy Oswalt and Brad Lidge. — If Oswalt's mutual option had been exercised …
Discussion:
Bronx Baseball Daily and The LoHud Yankees Blog
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